Science Questions

Why after eating asparagus does your urine smell so strong?

Why after eating asparagus does your urine smell so strong? Jenny via email

There must be a chemical in the asparagus that is absorbed into your blood through your gut, and then filtered out by your kidney into your urine. Scientists don't know what the chemical is, but it must move quickly as people can smell it in their urine after only half an hour. Interestingly some people claim not to be able to smell the difference.

November 2006